Political Operatives Quotes

But 'This Town' is official Washington. It's political Washington. It's not the Washington that clogs New York Avenue. It's not the Washington that lives in Gaithersburg. It's not the Washington that accounts for most of the population. 'This Town' refers to the people who think they run your country.

The general's staff is a handpicked collection of killers, spies, geniuses, patriots, political operators and outright maniacs. There's a former head of British Special Forces, two Navy Seals, an Afghan Special Forces commando, a lawyer, two fighter pilots and at least two dozen combat veterans and counterinsurgency experts. They jokingly refer to themselves as Team America, taking the name from the South Park-esque sendup of military cluelessness, and they pride themselves on their can-do attitude and their disdain for authority.

Most people who serve in Washington have been trained either as lawyers or as political operatives--professions that tend to place a premium on winning arguments rather than solving problems.

There is something discordant about a team of speechwriters and political operatives hammering away to create an image of the 'real, inner' candidate. And, to be blunt, there is no necessary connection between a moving life experience and the skills necessary for leadership.

They are lovely people. All the political movements I’ve been associated with have consisted of lovely people. But what a successful political movement needs is not lovely people. Give me a mean son-of-a-bitch like Lew Atwater or Karl Rove. The Drug Reform people a lovely, stoned hippies.

What we have done over the last 40 or 50 years is systematically attacked and weakened the parties, the political machines, the professionals, and insiders, and hacks, and all the tools that they use to get politicians to play well together. And with those gone, you get chaos.

Any suggestion that I'm writing about political operatives because I'm interested in political operatives misses the entire point.

I do not feel that this administration would be open to considering the kinds of analyses that I create....  what has never happened with any other administration was to have a political operative sitting on the National Security Council much less having a vote on the Council....  The politicians with little or no National Security experience, are tuning out the professional apolitical views and analyses of the men and women who do.

Political operatives don't tend to be existentialists. They do know, however, that if a supporter doesn't vote, then his or her opinion does not make a sound - or a difference.

Obviously, there are political operatives that are playing a role. It doesn't mean it shouldn't be denounced. All candidates should say, we want to have - be able to have nonviolent, peaceful speaking events. Do not hurt people, do not hit. Do not break the law, no one is encouraging violence. That's what should be stated very clearly. Denounce any violence that occurs. Be honest to say exactly also, what is behind this. They are trying to elicit and produce a specific response to try to discredit and to paint Donald Trump in a particular light. That is - that's what's happening.

It's all these pundits, all these consultants, and the candidates, as if they're in a bubble leaving democracy off-limits.

Most of who's left in the administration now are all these yes men and fanboys who were van drivers or press flacks for Barack Obama in Iowa and New Hampshire in 2008.